Device for feeding a continuous rolled strip of printing substrate to a laser printer not otherwise configured therefor

ABSTRACT

A device for feeding a continuous rolled strip (5) of printing substrate to a laser printer (10) not designed for this purpose and for delivering the strip (5) in a predetermined format. There is an input (12) and an output (14) of the printer (10). Each input and output comprises a cutter (32, 34) for the said strip (5) and a device for measuring the length of the strip (5) between two successive cuts. The measuring device actuates the cutters upon the detection by the measuring device of a predetermined length of strip (5) between cuts. The measuring device detects a cut end of the strip (5).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device for feeding a rolled strip ofprinting substrate to a laser printer and for delivering the strip in apredetermined format.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that the laser type printers for professional usenormally available on the market do not accept a continuous strip ofprinting substrate. Only very high-quality laser type printers acceptthe feeding of a continuous strip of substrate under certain conditions.

A printer of this type is described in document DE-A-4025177, forexample. In practice, the printer described in this document accepts thecontinuous feeding of a paper referred to as detachable feed pin paperwhich comprises lateral perforations on both sides of the sheet andtransversal perforations of a specific length making it possible tolater separate the strip into conventional pages. This documentdescribes the detection of the transversal perforations making itpossible to determine the point where the strip must stop in the courseof each successive printout.

Document DE-A-3313404 also describes the continuous feeding of a lasertype printer and is more specifically concerned with a device making itpossible to slacken the strip of substrate at the printer input. Ittherefor does not describe a solution for feeding a laser type printernot designed for this purpose with a continuous rolled strip of printingsubstrate and for delivering the strip in a predetermined format.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,143 describes a special matrix printermaking it possible to have the paper input and output on the same side,with a continuous feeding of the paper. The problem encountered with alaser type printer is quite peculiar since such a printer does notaccept all substrate formats, contrarily to a matrix printer.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is thus to provide a devicemaking it possible to use a conventional laser type printer to print ona substrate of a specific format which under normal conditions is notaccepted by the printer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the feed and delivery device comprises ameans of input and a means of output respectively placed at the inputand at the output of the printer, and each comprising a means ofguillotining and cutting the strip and a means of measuring the lengthof said strip between two successive cuts.

According to one embodiment, the measuring means consists of a guide ofwhich one face easily receives the strip, with this face having adetermined length and/or a means of detecting the strip, such as aphotoelectric cell or a microswitch.

According to another embodiment, the measuring means consists of aphonic wheel driven to rotation by the strip or by a transcoder.

Preferably, the means of input is placed below the printer, a guidebeing provided to guide the paper towards the printer input, whereas themeans of output is placed above the printer, with a tray for receivingthe cut substrate available beyond the means of output.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention and its other objectives, advantages andcharacteristics will be more clearly understood upon reading thedescription which follows of the preferred embodiments (provided on anon limiting basis), in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing of the feed and delivery deviceaccording to the present invention, associated to a laser type printernot designed for this purpose;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a preferred measuring means which can be usedwith the device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 in particular, the printer 10 is shown withoutdetails since it is a conventional printer of the type available on themarket.

In brief, the continuous strip 5 is formed into a roll 3 and firstenters a guide 7 from which it penetrates a means of input 12 at theoutput of which a guide 42 is provided to guide the strip towards theinput 22 of the printer 10. At the output 24 of the printer 10, thestrip first reaches a guide 8 and then the means of output 14. The meansof input 12, like the means of output 14, mainly comprises a means ofguillotining 32, 34 and a means for measuring the length of the stripbetween two successive cuts.

In the example shown, the two means of input and output 12, 14 eachfurther comprise, before the guillotining means, a means of stretching36, 37 the strip. This stretching means, which also drives the strip,comprises at least two driving rollers 38, 40 for the stretching means36, and 39, 41 for the stretching means 37, turning at different speeds.This stretching means enables the strip 5 to acquire a substantiallyflat shape before and after passing through the printer 10. This isparticularly useful when the strip of printing substrate consists ofcardboard, which can be useful for making cards, for example.

The means of output 14 further comprises a driving device 54 making itpossible for the strip, after having been cut by the guillotining means34, to be driven towards the reception tray 48 provided beyond the meansof output 14.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the measuring means consists of a guide42 for the strip 5, of which one face 44 easily receives the strip 5,with a means of detecting 46 the arrival of the strip provided at adetermined distance from the guillotining means 32. This means ofdetection 46 is preferably a photoelectric cell or a microswitch or anyother equivalent means. Hence, when the strip enters the guide 42, assoon as its end is detected by a means of detection 46, a command isgiven to the guillotining means 32 to cut the strip transversely. Thelength of cut strip is then seized at the input 22 of the printer 10with the usual means available to the printer in which the cut strip isto be printed. Obviously, the length of strip thus cut correspondsexactly to the maximum length of substrate accepted by the printer.

Alternatively, the measuring means can consist, as shown in FIG. 2, of aconventional phonic wheel 60 driven by the strip of paper and placed,for example, between rollers 38 and 40 of the means of stretching 36 thestrip. Typically, a phonic wheel 60 consists of a wheel comprising teeth62 which vary the airgap in an electromagnetic coil 64. Thus, when thestrip 5 advances, a conventional electronic device can count the numberof teeth which pass in front of the coil 64 in order to preciselydetermine the displacement of the strip 5 and command the guillotiningmeans 32 to cut the strip 5. Either one of the two measuring means canalso be found in the means of output 14. Here however, as shown, threemeans of detection 50, 51, 52 are provided in order to make it possibleto cut the strip at the printer output in various possible formats. Inthe example shown, the three means of detection consist of photoelectriccells, with a guide 56 provided to ease the passage of the cut strip 5in front of the photoelectric cell. Nevertheless, as in the case of themeans of input 12, it is also possible to use a phonic wheel 60 such asthat shown in FIG. 2 placed, for example, between rollers 39 and 41 ofthe stretching means 37.

Those skilled in the art will have understood that the device accordingto the invention makes it possible to use any laser type printeravailable on the market, and more specifically the bottom of the linelaser type printers used in offices. Equipped according to theinvention, the laser type printer can thus print documents in a formatquite different from those authorised by the printer itself. Thus, oneof the possible applications of the device according to the invention isthe making of professional, best wishes or equivalent types of cardsrequiring a cardboard substrate and a very particular format.

Although only preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedand shown, it is obvious that any modification made along the same lineswill fall within the scope of the present invention.

In particular, strip guides can be provided in a manner different tothose shown. A device for measuring the tension of the strip 5 beforereaching the device can be provided and the device can also include ameans of indicating that the end of the strip 5 has been reached. Thismeasuring means may include a transcoder.

I claim:
 1. In combination with a laser printer (10) not designed toreceive a continuous strip of printing substrate, a device for feeding acontinuous rolled strip (5) of printing substrate to said laser printer(10) and for delivering the said strip (5) in a predetermined format,said feeding and delivering device comprising a means of input (12) anda means of output (14) respectively placed at an input (22) and at anoutput (24) of the said printer (10); each means of input and outputcomprising means of repeatedly cutting (32, 34) the said strip (5) andmeans for measuring the length of the said strip (5) between twosuccessive cuts, wherein said measuring and cutting means (46; 32) ofsaid input cuts the strip (5) to the maximum length of substrateaccepted by the printer (10), and said measuring and cutting means (50,51, 52; 34) of said output cuts the strip (5) again to one of aplurality of shorter lengths selected by a user of the printer (10). 2.Feed and delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said means ofinput (12) and output (14) further comprise, before the said cuttingmeans (32, 34), a means of stretching (36, 37) the said strip.
 3. Feedand delivery device according to claim 2, wherein said stretching means(36, 37) comprises at least two driving rollers (38, 40; 39, 41) turningat different speeds.
 4. Feed and delivery device according to claim 1,wherein said measuring means comprises at least one means of detecting(46, 50, 51, 52) the said strip.
 5. Feed and delivery device accordingto claim 4, wherein said means of detection (46, 50, 51, 52) is aphotoelectric cell.
 6. Feed and delivery device according to claim 4,wherein said means of detection (46) is a microswitch.
 7. Feed anddelivery device according to claim 4, wherein said measuring meansfurther comprises a guide (42) of which one face (44) easily receivesthe strip (5), said face (44) having a determined length.
 8. Feed anddelivery device according to claim 1, wherein said means of input (12)is placed below the said printer (10), a guide (42) being provided toguide said strip towards the input (22) of the said printer (10),whereas the said means of output (14) is placed above the said printer(10), with a tray (48) for receiving the cut strip beyond the said meansof output (14).
 9. Feed and delivery device according to claim 1,wherein said measuring means actuates said cutting means upon thedetection by said measuring means of a predetermined length of saidstrip (5) between cuts.
 10. Feed and delivery device according to claim9, wherein said measuring means detects a cut end of said strip (5).